Affected at the start of preparation, the two players could make their comeback before the Euro. The staff still believe in it. However, it is not won…
Which Blues at EuroBasket 2022? After its success in two stages against Belgium (90-71), Thursday, in Montpellier, the French team still has 13 elements, including eight outsiders (Fournier, Heurtel, Luwawu-Cabarrot, Okobo, Maledon, Cordinier, Tarpey, Howard) and five interiors (Gobert, Yabusele, Poirier, M’Baye, Jaiteh), knowing that Victor Wembanyama, Frank Ntilikina, Moustapha Fall and Andrew Albicy have been forced to withdraw since the disclosure of an initial list of 17 players.
Although, the term forfeit was a bit strong for the latter, victim of a strain and who immediately announced his desire to “do everything to return after a period of rest and care“. The French Basketball Federation (FFBB) also openly left doubt: “He will follow appropriate care. He may be reviewed later and reinstated, if his condition allows it.“. It was not the same for Fall, victim of a tear. Not initially anyway. A priori, no hope of return for him. But The Team revealed on Tuesday that the two players are working hard and still hope to be back for the European Championship (Sept. 1-18).
Albicy and Fall are preparing to return to the field as soon as possible. But unfortunately that does not mean that it will be with us, even if we hope so.
Vincent Collet
Asked in Montpellier Thursday evening, Vincent Collet did not deny that the possibility exists. “Of course they work, they are professional players. They are preparing to return to the field as soon as possible. But unfortunately that does not mean that it will be with us, even if we hope so.“, first indicated the national coach, on beIN SPORTS. «Even if there is no French team, there is a club behind waiting for them“, he said, at a press conference this time. Referring further to the Albicy case, Collet explained this:Andrew is doing his rehabilitation in Gran Canaria (his club). We hope… This rehabilitation is going well and we hope that there can be a medical green light which has not yet been granted and does not depend only on us. He will first be checked by his club. But we are in contact, hoping that there can be a favorable development.»
Asked about a possible deadline for a potential return from Albicy, but the principle is the same for his comrade from Olympiakos, the 59-year-old technician recalled that the limits are mainly set by Fiba, first for the qualifying matches for the 2023 World Cup against the Czech Republic (August 24) in Bercy and Bosnia and Herzegovina (August 27), agreeing however that it would be difficult to imagine a return in the hours preceding the departure for the ‘Germany. A list must be submitted before these two deadlines. “We still have a little time but I don’t see it arriving the day before… And even if it does, we have to be able to test it in full size. Especially since the players who may be affected by this change do not deserve it. It’s not just: “I come back and I take someone’s place”. We have to be sure that he can be the player we hope and want.»
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Remember that only the Parisian Ismaël Kamagaté has been called in as reinforcements so far, and again, simply as “sparring partner“. Good news ? Nothing serious for Théo Maledon, released at the end of the match on Thursday. “He cut his chin open, without gravity. He had to go out because he was bleeding“said Collet.
Tarpey in the right wagon?
As for the last spots available, we feel that William Howard, little or not used, leaves with a length of delay. Terence Tarpey scored points. We saw him again impacting Thursday evening against the Belgians, even starting the second period due to the faults of “TLC”. “Without this being a guarantee of selection, it was not the object, I insisted in the locker room on his state of mind. He has no mood. He knows what his role is and he does it very well, thoroughly. We need players like that to be the best team possible“Judges the Boulogne-Levallois coach.
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One thing is certain: the experience of Andrew Albicy and/or Moustapha Fall, Olympic vice-champions last summer in Tokyo, would not harm this young and inexperienced French team, beyond the quality of the two boys of course. “We have a very young group. Casually, we are only three to have done several international competitions. Even very important players for us like Tim (Luwawu-Cabarrot) and Gerschon (Yabusele), made their first campaign last year“, underlines Evan Fournier, after this victory marked by a “form of smugness“of private Tricolores, let us recall, of Nando de Colo and Nicolas Batum. A “wakeup call“, said coach Collet, who regretted at the start of preparation that”the doctor started making the selection“. With any luck, other doctors will reinforce the group at the buzzer.
